Today we interview Dr. Jeff Stull, a pastor and counselor from Atlanta, GA, about the tragedy of men and women in the pastorate choosing to commit suicide.1. Before we talk specifically about pastors and suicide, could you explain to me what are some of the contributing factors that lead a person to commit suicide?

The issues common to all of us the idols of success, comfort, control and power unrecognized and unattended to through repentance and faith, accountability and confession, and aloneness and loneliness. These idols take their root and undermine our keeping in step with the spirit. We become a lone wolf easily bullied to by the world the flesh and the devil.

2. What are some of the unique struggles that pastors face? Do you think pastors and ministry leaders are more or less vulnerable than others to committing suicide? Do you think or are you concerned about a growing trend in suicide for pastors?

In my experience as I see it, pastors are facing a number of pressures that many people just simply can't comprehend unless they've been there themselves. In general the overwhelming sense of hopelessness when it comes to suicidal ideation - powerlessness is also a big computing factor when it comes to suicidal ideation.

The call of the gospel to make disciples of all nations in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and discipling them is the common passion for all pastors. People that are called us pastors deeply care. When things don't seem like they are working out and when failure is an actual experience or an imminent prospect - the overwhelming sense of shame can just be too much.

It can feel as if God's reputation is at stake and it is my job as a pastor to uphold and promote God’s name. So not only have I failed myself and I'm looking at failing others but I'm failing God too. We as pastors can easily lose sight of the gospel of grace and kindness of God towards us. Seminary has not taught us good self-care skills. And so the wellspring of life that we need to work out of in Jesus Christ seems to dry up. By default we have simply depended upon our own skills and our own personal assets. And when we operate and function out of an empty heart - an overwhelming sense of incompetence and failure turns into discouragement which the enemy can easily use to take us out.

3. What can a pastor do and where can they go if they feel as if they are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts?

The last thing a pastor wants to be able to do as the answer man - the hero - the go-to solution provider - is to admit that we have our own needs and neediness. Admitting our need, our isolation and our alienation is absolutely necessary first and foremost. We need to figure out how to join with others - develop a band of brothers - have a good mentor, coach and counselor and not allow the enemy to trick us into believing that we are somehow better than needing one. There is no such thing as an army of one.

4. How can a pastor’s congregation or the pastor's family do to better identify when a pastor may be in crisis?

This is probably most difficult question to answer. Men in general are more successful at suicide than women because nobody ever sees it coming. We don't talk about our struggles because that exposes our incompetency and weakness. So the best thing a congregation and family can do is to make sure that the above resources are in place. We cannot allow the pastor to become the lone wolf. So we must hold our pastors accountable and insist that they have a band of brothers, that they have a mentor/coaching in place and that they are regularly seeing a good gospel-centered professional counselor. Finding a good gospel centered professional counselor may be more difficult than you think. So promoting courses such as what the Gospel Coalition provides or World Harvest Mission's Sonship curriculum are absolutely necessary.

5. What words of help and comfort would you give to a congregation that has been impacted by their pastor committing suicide?

First and foremost for the congregation, their community and family I would want to express empathy, sorrow and join with the loved ones in their suffering. Secondly we must step back and reframe our experience and realize that in the midst of the battle, this being a spiritual battle, nobody escapes wounding and suffering in the midst of the expansion of the kingdom of God within.

Yet Romans 8 reminds us that even though we face death all day long, like sheep to the slaughter, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. The gospel enables us and empowers us to choose the path of life. Praise God that He perseveres with us and it is his responsibility to deliver us home into his presence. What joy - what relief - what comfort!

Dr. R. Jeffrey Stull is a Marriage and Family Counselor who enjoys assisting his clients in developing creative alternatives to everyday life, love and work challenges. He is licensed as a Professional Counselor and a Mental Health Counselor. Jeff has specialized trainings in Relationship Repair, Abuse Recovery, Adolescents, and Mindfulness. He holds certifications in a number of related specialties including Professional Counseling Supervision, Clinical Sexology and Professional Christian Counseling. He serves his clients in Alpharetta and Dahlonega, Georgia and is the founder of both Access Christian Counseling, Inc. and Access Strategies, Inc.

As an ordained minister Jeff Stull also serves with Church Multiplication Ministries, Inc., which trains leaders, emerging leaders and Church planters. He consults on leadership development, relationship dynamics, team-building and stress management programs with businesses, non-profits and ministries. Discover more about Jeff and his Counseling Practice at www.AccessGrace.com

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Do you need an urgent spell to get your ex back there is a great spiritualist who can help you, his name is Dr Brave!!

An amazing testimony on a spell caster who brought my husband back to me.. My name is Natasha Johnson,i live in Florida,USA,and I'm happily married to a lovely and caring husband ,with three kids. A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce.he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{bravespellcaster@gmail.com}. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past seven {7}months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our relationship was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster. So, i will advice you out there to kindly visit the same website { http://enchantedscents.tripod.com/lovespell/},if you are in any condition like this,or you have any problem related to "bringing your ex back. So thanks to the Dr Brave for bringing back my husband ,and brought great joy to my family once again. { bravespellcaster@gmail.com }, Thanks.....

Greeting to any body that is reading my comment,Am Tanya Albert All Thanks goes to DR Ero, i was married to my husband, and we were living fine and happy. it come to an extend that my husband that use to love and care for me, those not have my time again, until i fined at that he was having an affair with another woman, i try to stop him,all my effort was in-vain sadly he divorce me and went for the woman. he live me with two of our kids, i cry all day, i was in pains, sorrow and looking for help. i was reading a news paper, i saw how DR Ero help people with his love and reuniting spell. so i decided to contact him and explain my problem to him, he did a love spell that make my husband to come back to me and our kids and never think of the woman. this man is god sent to restore heart break and reunite relationship. may the lord be your strength and continue to use you to save people relationship and any problem they encounter contact him for help dr.eromosespelltemple@hotmail.com i promise you that you, he will but a smile on your face and make you feel happy. good luck.email= dr.eromosespelltemple@hotmail.commobile= +2347055029151

My name is Sarah Jacoby from USA, Three weeks ago I and my boyfriend had a conflict, so with that he broke up with me saying he no longer wanted to associate with me anymore, I never knew he was interested in working out his marriage with another girl, I was helpless because I loved him so much more than myself, after begging and pleading with him I realized it was out of my hands, he really was leaving me, I could not stay without him, I tried to figure things out with him but he is not listening me, he told me that he is no longer interested that I should look for someone else, I tried all my best but things were not working out, so I had no choice than to look around for help, I went into search of spell caster to help me bring him back to me with the help of spell and after searching I actually finalize to work with (maduraitemple@yahoo.com) in regards of my lover. after 3 days as Dr Madurai told that my lover will return. my lover returned in surprising way, I was chocked and was so happy I can't say how much I'm grateful, My lover not only came back to me, but has left his other girl and now has engaged me, we are getting married next month, I don't know what I would have done without this spell caster you can contact (maduraitemple@yahoo.com) him today . is spell is for a better life.

BE CAREFUL HERE NOBODY CAN HELP YOU HERE OR EVEN SUGGEST HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR EX OR LOVE BACK,ANY TESTIMONIES OF MOST SPELL CASTER HERE MUST BE IGNORE.BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE SCAM I MEAN REAL SCAM WHICH I WAS A VICTIM AND I GOT RIPPED OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE I WAS SO ANXIOUS TO GET MY WIFE BACK AFTER SHE LEFT ME FOR OVER 2 YEARS WITH MY 7 YEARS OLD SON JERRY,I HAVE APPLIED TO 7 DIFFERENT SPELL CASTER HERE AND ALL TO NO AVAIL THEY ALL ASK FOR SAME THING SEND YOUR NAME YOUR EX NAME ADDRESS AND PICTURE PHONE NUMBER ETC WHICH I DID OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND MOST OF THEM WERE FROM WEST AFRICA UNTIL I SAW A POST ABOUT MAMA ANITA SPELL AND I DECIDED TO GAVE HER MY LAST TRAIL.SHE ASK ME FOUR THINGS MY REAL NAME,MY EX AND MY EX MOTHER NAME AND $380 AND SAID MY EX WILL COME BACK IN 24HOURS, I HAVE PAID OVER $3000 ON SPELL CASTING AND COURIER AND NOTHING HAVE WORK FOR ME AFTER 3 DAYS I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH I HAVE LOST SO FAR SO I SAID LET ME GIVE HER A TRY SO I CALLED HER AGAIN AND SEND MY REAL NAME,MY EX AND MY EX MOTHER NAME AND THE $380 BECAUSE I SWEAR IT WAS MY LAST TRY SO I WAS WAITING AS SHE TOLD ME TO WAIT TILL NEXT DAY AND I COULD NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE MY WIFE AND WANT HER BACK AT 9PM THAT DAY I SAW MY WIFE ON LINE ON FACE BOOK AND SHE SAID HI AT FIRST I WAS SHOCK BECAUSE SHE NEVER TALK WITH ME FOR THE PAST A YEAR AND 9 MONTH NOW I DID NOT REPLY AGAIN SHE SAID ARE YOU THERE? I QUICKLY REPLY YES AND SHE SAID CAN WE SEE TOMORROW I SAID YES AND SHE WENT OFF-LINE I WAS CONFUSED I TRY TO CHAT HER AGAIN BUT SHE WAS NO MORE ON LINE I COULD NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT AS I WAS WONDERING WHAT SHE IS GOING TO SAY, BY 7.AM THE NEXT MORNING SHE GAVE ME A MISS CALL I DECIDED NOT TO CALL BACK AS I WAS STILL ON SHOCK AGAIN SHE CALL AND I PICK SHE SAID CAN WE SEE AFTER WORK TODAY I SAID YES SO SHE END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY I GOT OFF WORK SHE CALL ME AND WE MEET AND NOW WE ARE BACK AGAIN I CALL MAMA ANITA THE NEXT DAY THANKING HER FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE IN FACT I STILL CALL HER AND THANK HER AS MY LIFE WAS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT MY WIFE PLEASE BE CAREFUL HERE I HAVE BEEN SCAM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IF YOU WANT A TRUE LOVE SPELL THEN CONTACT MAMA ANITA (mamaanita.lovespellsolution@gmail.com)

I want to give thanks to my Doctor and i will always give thanks to DR Owede who brought back my love that has left me for 6years within 48hours, i have said about this last week but i promised to always tell people about this every week end so that those that did not read about it last week will read about it this week, i have been looking for how to get my Man back to my life because i love Him with the whole of my heart, i could not replace him with any body,one day i was watching my television when i saw a lady giving thanks to DR Owede and telling the world how he helped her i was so shocked i could not believe it because i never taught that there are powers that can bring back lost love, then that was how i decided to contact him too because i do really need my love back,when i contacted him i told him everything and he told me not to worry that my love will surely be back to my arms within 48hours at first i could not believe because i was thinking how could somebody that has gone for 6years come back within 48 hours,so then i decided to watch and see,unbelievable within the next 48hours i got a call from unknown number so i decided to pick the call the next thing i could hear was my loves voice he was pleading and begging me on the phone that i should forgive him that i should forget all that have happened that he did not know what came over him,he promised not to leave for any reason, that he was really sorry for what he did,i was so surprised because i never believed that this could happen,so that was how i accepted his apology and the next morning he came to my house and still pleading for me to forgive, him i told him that everything is okay that i have forgiven him, that was how we started again and now we are married, i promised to say this testimony in radio station, commenting this testimony is still okay but before this month runs out i promise to say this in radio station and i will,sir thank you very much.World please am begging you people to try and thank this man for me,or if you need his help here is his email address owedeudohtemple@yahoo.com THANK YOU DOCTOR

i want to give thanks to my dr and i will always give thanks to DR OGUDUDU who brought back my love that has left me for 6years within 48hours, i have said about this last week but i promised to always tell people about this every week end so that those that did not read about it last week will read about it this week, i have been looking for how to get this boy back to my life because i love this boy with the whole of my heart, i could not replace him with any body,one day i was watching my television when i saw a lady giving thanks to DR OGUDUDU and telling the world how he helped her i was so shocked i could not believe it because i never taught that there are powers that can bring back lost love, then that was how i decided to contact him too because i do really need my love back,when i contacted him i told him everything and he told me not to worry that my love will surely be back to my arms within 48hours at first i could not believe because i was thinking how could somebody that has gone for 6years come back within 48 hours,so then i decided to watch and see,unbelievable within the next 48hours i got a call from unknown number so i decided to pick the call the next thing i could hear was my loves voice he was pleading and begging me on the phone that i should forgive him that i should forget all that have happened that he did not know what came over him,he promised not to leave for any reason, that he was really sorry for what he did,i was so surprised because i never believed that this could happen,so that was how i accepted his apology and the next morning he came to my house and still pleading for me to forgive, him i told him that everything is okay that i have forgiven him, that was how we started again and now we are married, i promised to say this testimony in radio station, commenting this testimony is still okay but before this month runs out i promise to say this in radio station and i will,sir thank you very much.World please am begging you people to try and thank this man for me,or if you need his help here is his email address drogududuspellhome@gmail.com. or call +2348144368825 THANK YOU DR

i want to give thanks to my dr and i will always give thanks to DR OGUDUDU who brought back my love that has left me for 6years within 48hours, i have said about this last week but i promised to always tell people about this every week end so that those that did not read about it last week will read about it this week, i have been looking for how to get this boy back to my life because i love this boy with the whole of my heart, i could not replace him with any body,one day i was watching my television when i saw a lady giving thanks to DR OGUDUDU and telling the world how he helped her i was so shocked i could not believe it because i never taught that there are powers that can bring back lost love, then that was how i decided to contact him too because i do really need my love back,when i contacted him i told him everything and he told me not to worry that my love will surely be back to my arms within 48hours at first i could not believe because i was thinking how could somebody that has gone for 6years come back within 48 hours,so then i decided to watch and see,unbelievable within the next 48hours i got a call from unknown number so i decided to pick the call the next thing i could hear was my loves voice he was pleading and begging me on the phone that i should forgive him that i should forget all that have happened that he did not know what came over him,he promised not to leave for any reason, that he was really sorry for what he did,i was so surprised because i never believed that this could happen,so that was how i accepted his apology and the next morning he came to my house and still pleading for me to forgive, him i told him that everything is okay that i have forgiven him, that was how we started again and now we are married, i promised to say this testimony in radio station, commenting this testimony is still okay but before this month runs out i promise to say this in radio station and i will,sir thank you very much.World please am begging you people to try and thank this man for me,or if you need his help here is his email address drogududuspellhome@gmail.com. or call +2348144368825 THANK YOU DR,